Paint Coverage Converter

Paint coverage depends on the paint type and surface texture.

Typical coverage rates:

• Standard interior paint: 10-12 sq m per liter (350-400 sq ft per gallon)
• Primer: 8-10 sq m per liter (300-350 sq ft per gallon)
• Exterior paint: 8-10 sq m per liter (300-350 sq ft per gallon)

The formula:

• Paint needed (liters) = Area (sq m) / Coverage rate × Number of coats
• Paint needed (gallons) = Area (sq ft) / Coverage rate × Number of coats

Unit conversions:

• 1 gallon (US) = 3.785 liters
• 1 sq meter = 10.764 sq feet
• 1 liter covers about 10 sq m = 107.6 sq ft (at standard rate)

Tips:

• Most walls need 2 coats for good coverage.
• Dark-to-light color changes may need 3 coats.
• Textured surfaces use 20-30% more paint.
• Always buy 10% extra for touch-ups and waste.

The coverage rates on a paint can are best-case numbers, measured on smooth, sealed, primed drywall. Real walls drink more. Bare drywall, fresh patches, and porous masonry soak up the first coat, so your true first-coat coverage can run 20 to 30% below the label, which is exactly why the calculator multiplies by your coat count rather than trusting one pass to cover.

Two things decide how many coats you actually need. Color is the obvious one: going from a dark wall to a pale one, or laying down a saturated red or yellow, often takes three coats because those pigments are translucent. The quieter factor is paint quality. Cheap paint carries less pigment and fewer solids, so it covers thin and you end up applying more of it, which is how a “bargain” gallon becomes the expensive option. When you finish, keep a labeled jar of leftover from each room. Touch-ups months later never match a freshly bought can, even of the identical color, because the wall has faded a little and the new batch is mixed fresh.